Playing with robots is more than just an after school hobby — it’s a head start into the future for the members of Onslow County’s only 4-H Robotics team.

Now in its third year, the growing 4-H Wild Cards Team 3763 gains inspiration and confidence in engineering and technology to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce. Under strict rules, limited resources and time limits, the teens use programming, electrical and mechanical skills, as well as marketing, to successfully create a working robot as part of the annual FIRST FRC Robotic Competition.

Using tools such as an advanced computer program and an Xbox game system controller, constructing a robot to accurately propel a plastic disc towards a target requires hours of problem solving — and a few failures a long the way.

“We came together and wrote all of the codes to make the robot run; simple things like telling the robot to turn left or right all had to be programmed,” said Adam Tokonitz, a junior at Richlands High School. “Programming is definitely the challenge part of this. It’s great until something goes wrong.”

Now in his third year as a part of the Wild Cards, Tokonitz and his teammates are challenged to develop communications skills among a group of very diverse members.

“When most people think of 4-H, they think of farming and livestock,” Onslow County 4-H Agent Wanda Mills said. “We don’t have the traditional 4-H in Onslow County, and I think it’s because this area is so transient and military based with people from all over.”

The agriculture industry is not forgotten in this new 4-Ha approach — it’s enhanced through the continuous change of technology to better serve society, those involved explain.

“It’s a whole new direction for them, but it is the future,” said Ed Tokonitz, senior mentor for the Wild Cards. “4-H teams offer things that the school teams can’t offer. It’s open to any student 14 to 18 in Onslow County, whether they’re home schooled or from a private school, and it allows any child to compete on a team and learn what they’re interested in.”

According to the national 4-H website, the new robotics program is part the organization’s goal to engage one million new young people in science by the year 2013 and to address a declining trend in the nation’s science, engineering, mathematics and technology. The Onslow County 4-H Robotics program is one of eight programs formed in North Carolina since 2009,and one of 43 nationwide.

Composed of 29 students from Richlands and Jacksonville high schools, the Wild Cards team is challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors.

Page 2 of 3 - The Wild Cards are guided by eight mentors, either parents of team members or volunteers from a variety of backgrounds including active duty and retired military as well as those in the IT and business fields. Mentors work alongside team members to provide guidance toward developing their robot and raising funds for the competition.

“We’re fortunate because we have mentors and volunteers involved that are military and non-military,” said Tokonitz, who is a retired Navy corpsman. “Even our mentors are very diverse, and it’s a nice mixture that Onslow County offers.”

Last month, the team competed in the FIRST Robotics Competition at Dorton Arena in Raleigh. Each participating team is given six weeks to build and compete with a robot of their own design using sophisticated software and hardware. During the competition, the Wild Cards used their robot to score as many discs into their goals as they could during a two minute and 15 second match.

Mino Smith, 15, a sophomore at Richlands High School, serves as the team’s public affairs representative and as an ambassador for the competition. Ambassadors greet potential sponsors at the program and present tours of the teams and challenges during competitions.

“Science is a major thing that we’re learning here, whether through mechanically building the robot or electrically wiring it, and we have the programming side of it,” Mino said. “There’s also the business side and getting your team’s name out there.”

Although they have received funding from the state 4-H office and sponsors such as J.C. Penney in the past, much of their public awareness is gained through website construction and fundraising projects. Registration fees, parts for building materials, transportation for the robot and team as well as other expenses can add up very quickly.

Cheyenne Butler and Katelyn Vause were responsible for conducting the business and community outreach divisions of team, which included securing a $200 grant through the Jacksonville Youth Council’s HARMONY youth philanthropy program.

“We filled out a grant application through HARMONY and our application was to help Boy Scouts achieve their goal of getting a robotics badge,” said Cheyenne, a senior at Jacksonville High School. “We’re going to invite them over and provide the materials for them to work on robotics and learn programming, mechanical and design aspects of it. We’re then going to show them our finished robot.”

While Cheyenne, 18, initially joined the team last year out of a love of engineering, Katelyn, 17, a junior at Richlands High School, found that she was a greater asset in business management for her first year on the team.

“I’m not so good with tools, but then they told me about the business side and I absolutely love organization and writing,” Katelyn said. “I also enjoy making new friends, and those are the main reasons why I joined.”

Page 3 of 3 - To learn more about the 4-H Wildcards Robotics Team, visit wildcardsrobotics.org or the team’s Facebook page, or call Onslow County Cooperative Extension at 910-455-5873.